MILF rebels burn houses, buildings in Maguindanao - military

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Moro rebels led by Abdul Basit Usman, who is wanted by Washington for having links with an international terrorist organization, raided a community in Maguindanao province late Sunday night by torching buildings and civilian houses. Usman, along with one Abas Awab, were tagged as the leaders behind the arson attack in the town of Mamasapano. Both are members of the renegade unit of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), military officials said. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said 16 houses, a daycare center and a Zone of Peace and Development building, all located in Dugengen village, were burned in the attack that occurred about 8:30 p.m. Brawner said among the houses that were burned included the house of the unnamed village captain. "Despite the observance of Ramadan, lawless MILF groups continue to conduct atrocities targeting even Muslim residents," said Brawner, referring to the Muslim's holy month that started last Sept. 1. The MILF has disowned Usman, but the military said the terror leader and Awab are members of the rebel group's 105th Base Command that is blamed for the spate of bombings in Mindanao. "As far as the military is concerned, Usman and Awab are members of the MILF," Colonel Julieto Ando, a spokesman for the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said without elaborating. The U.S. Government Rewards Program offered up to $50,000 for information leading to Usman's apprehension. He is said to have links with the Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya. The MILF’s 105th Base Command, under Ameril Umbra Kato, is currently being hunted by the military for the attack in several towns in North Cotabato early last month. Two more MILF leaders, Abdullah Macapaar and Sulayman Panglian, are also the subjects of current military offensives in Mindanao. - Al Jacinto, GMANews.TV